President of Kookmin Universty
Yim Hong Jae

It is with my deepest regret that I have to send this congratulatory message to you without holding the commencement ceremony at our beautiful campus due to the ongoing pandemic. Although this was an inevitable decision to protect the health and safety of all of us, it is still regrettable that we could not provide you a moment to reminisce your good memories with your professors, colleagues, and fellow students at our beautiful Bugak Campus.

On behalf of Kookmin University, I would like to express my sincere congratulations to all of you who have completed your studies and are graduating with honor amid the hardships we are experiencing due to COVID-19. I would like to also deliver special thanks to your parents who have tirelessly supported you both materially and morally during your studies at Kookmin. Moreover, I would like to thank the dedication of our faculty and staff members for providing high quality education and services to the graduates.
Dear graduates!

The English word ‘Commencement’ has two meanings: to graduate and to begin. At this moment, these meanings are one and the same, as graduation itself is the start of a new stage of life. Today is the last day of your university years and the first day of your new life as a member of society. As you step out into the world, I would like to pass along a few requests for you.

First, as you are already well aware, Kookmin Universi- ty’s educational philosophies are “Civic Engagement” and “Pragmatism” that originated from the educational ideology of  Kim “Sungkok” Sung-Gon and the founding ideology created by the provisional government ministers such as Kim Gu, Jo So-Ang, centered around Shin “Haegong” Ik-Hui. While meeting many alumni who are active in various segments of society, I became convinced that all of the years they spent here at Bugak, toiling to gain knowledge and experiencing the joy of university life, were valuable opportunities for them in accumulating the spirits of civic engagement and pragmatism. I am certain that all of you graduating today also have qualifications and abilities like your senior graduates. The society that you will soon be setting foot in does not recognize talented people who only have knowledge. Knowledge can be accumulated without difficulty. However, the spirits of civic engagement and pragmatism you have learned at Kookmin cannot be acquired easily. I urge you to be confident of the fact that you are equipped with the abilities and qualities that our society needs.

Second, I ask that you have a bigger dream for tomorrow than today and always move forward for that dream. Our society changes and develops endlessly. Being satisfied with your talent and ability will end up in falling behind in the society. Never be afraid of failure. Some people say that this phrase can only be true to those who has already achieved success. In a sense, that is true. It is a phrase that can be used by successful people, who have overcome various failure until they have reached their goals. Failure is hurtful to everyone and cannot be taken easily. However, I believe one’s life with failure caused by attempts to make progress is far better than a life without any failure because of doing nothing in a worry of making failure.

Finally, picture yourself in 10 or 20 years from now. A successful life does not just mean achieving something big in your life. I believe one’s life can be truly meaningful when you make efforts to connect with others and contribute to our society using your talent and ability. In the years to come, your lives will demand more choices than you can imagine. Your every choice will be accumulated and define your life. Therefore, try not to be swayed by transitory joys and sorrows easily, but take a long-term view and choose the way of life living harmoniously with others in your community and society.

Dear graduates!
Although you will now leave Kookmin University, we will begin our new relationship as an alma mater and alumni. Kookmin University will always support you just like your parents. Your alma mate will always endeavor to develop further and become a leading university that you can always be proud of. I would like to ask for your continued love and support for Kookmin University from wherever you are in Korea or the world.

I would like to reiterate my sincere congratulations on your graduation and wish you the best of luck for your bright future. Thank you.
August 18, 2021
Yim Hong-Jae, President of Kookmin University